By Emilia Maria Alvarez
Everybody’s body is different – something we all know yet often forget when it matters most.
We can get so frustrated when a certain diet or workout plan doesn’t work. When a protein powder makes us gain weight or a certain multivitamin isn’t really doing the trick for us.
Or better yet, when we insist someone else try something that worked so well for us!
This just scratches the surface of moments we forget just how much everyone’s body is so unique and requires its own needs and attention.
So, this is a friendly reminder as to how truly different our bodies can be.
I’ll use my favorite example, because it involves my sister and me. Since we come from the same mom, we’re both young women in our twenties that share the same blood. We’re both very active and work out consistently. We also have some similar diagnoses that mess with our hormonal balance.
All this to say, intermittent fasting seemingly saved my health and wellbeing. It gives my hormones a reset, helps me eat intentionally and gives structure and reason behind not eating too late into the night.
It completely shifted every part of my nutritional and physical health in the best way, and I truly suggest everyone at least gives it a shot. I physically notice when I “fall off the wagon” and when I “get back on.”
My sister on the other hand, even though we have all those similarities I mentioned earlier, can’t fast for even half as long as an intermittent fast takes. She’s not diabetic, but it seems like her blood sugar drops, it affects her hormones incredibly negatively, and her hanger is sooooo very real. She literally begins to feel ill. I almost regretted suggesting that she try it, because of how much she expressed to me that it didn’t work for her.
Granted, neither of us are — or have ever been — trying to lose weight. Intermittent fasting just happens to be a nutrition plan that works incredibly well for me and incredibly poorly for her. She, on the other hand, prefers eating several small meals throughout the day. That’s never worked for me — I just end up a liiiiitttllee hangry all day.
I know this is a small example, but considering all our similarities and closeness in bloodline, it’s as close to my own scientific research I can do on the matter. My official hypothesis was that I was sure it would work for her because we’re so similar in so many ways. The official findings were that no matter how similar we are, we are still two completely different bodies that need different things.
So, try things out. Keep what works, ditch what doesn’t. There’s no need to try to fit a square peg in a round hole.
Above all, remember to consult a doctor before trying anything that feels big. More importantly, if what the doctor tells you isn’t resonating with what works for you, don’t be afraid to get a couple more inputs from different doctors. Sometimes they too forget that everybody is different.
It’s your life, your body. Design it the way YOU want.
To make an appointment with one of our therapists, coaches or psychiatrists you can call our office at 305-445-0477 or email Carolina@
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“…and I said to my body, softly, ‘I want to be your friend.’
It took a long breath, and replied, ‘I have been waiting my whole life for this.'”
– Rupi Kaur
